Figured this should be separate from the Beer thread.
To start things off:
Nose is not very expressive or complex, but does show some funky leather – horsebarn a bit. Medium-dry. Leathery palate. 8.2% alc. well-hidden. Simple, but delicious.
2010 Henney’s - Still Cider
Leather and horse tack. Rich apple flavor, but very dry. 6.5% alc… Very good. Cider should be more popular amongst those who enjoy old-world red wine.
Brian, I have not really branched out into ciders. My girlfriend drinks lots of them because they are gluten free and she has an allergy. But, generally when I have tried hers (primarily various versions of Woodchucks and I believe Crispin) they have been too sweet for me. Any suggestions for Ciders that are not so sweet other than potentially the Henney’s?
two major problems with strongbow, 1) they were leeds’ shirt sponsor for a while. That’s an instant DQ in my book. 2) it kinda sucks (just like leeds )
Jimmy, you should be able to find some norman (as in normandy) ciders around chicago. I wouldn’t be surprised if west lakeview has some and I know binny’s carries some norman ciders
Light yellow color. Not much head. Medium-dry (although advertised as Dry). Rather simple Nose and Palate. Comes across like a very cheap Chardonnay. Pales in comparison to many of the English artisan ciders I’ve tried recently; only a step or two better than Strongbow, Magners, and Bulmer’s. 3.0/10.
On the US front, had my first taste from a new producer - “The Cidery” out of Wurtsboro, NY. They’re using pippin apples, presumbly with a closer resemblence to their eating-apple parents than any cider apples, and it shows in the cider, which is very appley but softer and less tannic than a straight cider apple. But they clearly know what they’re doing, since the cider sort of falls halfway between a less tanninc scrumpy and a really clean, dry cider like Farnum Hill or Bellweather. Lots of apple character. No added sugar and minimal RS. Very good indeed.
If you have a chance, try Mckenzie’s Cider. It is excellent. And their Winter Reserve is fantastic. You’ll never want to try a Strongbow or a Woodchuck again. Ever.
BODY: hazy yellow-orange color is reminiscent of a Berliner Weiss; no carbonation or head; medium-light bodied
TASTE: dry/tannic; palate mirrors the nose: light leatheriness, slightly tart; finish is long and of medium-light intensity; kind of has a garrigue note on the finish, too; 5% alc. not noticeable.